The Washington critic., 1887-12-08
THE EVILS OF SOCIETY.
Live Questions Discussed by the Chris.
tian Conference,
'Pcriis 10 the Family" "'rhc Social
Vice" aud "Iliitcracy" Receive
the Attention ofThis Morn
ing's Session,

Alliance was opened this morning at |
$50 by the singing Of the hymn begin
ming "IIoly, Holy, Holy, Lord God Al
mighty"
The attendance was not as large as at
yesterdays sessions. but still the floor
was comfortably filed. Tho attendance
of the general public in the galleries was
in short time they bCsnn TO fill up, and
before the close Of the morning session
the attendance was very good.
President Dodge Of the alliance An
nounced the hymn, and after it was
sung, Rev. Or. Butler Of the Lutheran
Church, this city, read Il chapter from
the New Testament, and when he had
finished the Rev. DR.. Chamberlain Of
Brooklyn, n. V, led in prayer.
Then the president introduced Justice
Harlan of tile U. $. supreme Court who
presided at the morning session. Ina rich
sympathetic voice, which IL is q pity is
not oftener heard in public, announced
the first paper on "Pcrils TO the Fam
ily," by Rev $. W. Dixie of Auburndale,
Mass. DIR. Dixie is middle-aged man,
rather spare, and speaks in an unusually
clear voice, which could be heard in all
parts of the church clearly. The paper
stated that about half million of new
families were formed each year. Di-
vorce is the greatest enemy to the family.
The percentage of divorces to marriages
ranges from less than five per cent.
in some States to twelve or fourteen per
cent. in California. The divorce rate in
this country has probably doubled in the
last twenty years.
THE INCREASE IN THE DIVORCE
rate is responsible for very large part
of the oifcnses against chastity. Nor
monism need hardly be considered in
connection with this subject. 1t is an
open violation, whereas divorce Is lnsid-
ious and secret. In one-third of the
States no document, official or witness
is necessary TO legal marriage. There
is an abundance of protection for real
estate or other property, but there is no
protection for the family. In no coun-
try is there so great laxity of the laws
governing the family. The family is
the germ of all other Institutions, as well
as their support. The school, govern
ment and all political organizations are
modelled after the family. Reforms
should begin in the families. The ex-
periments recently made in this direc-
ton in New York, Chicago and those by
MissTicknor, the Chautauqua, and others,
| give promise Of great success. The
saloons certainly hurt the home, but the
homes also sometimes make the saloon
desirable.
Statistics from London have shown
that RIGHTEOUSNESS is, equally with in
temperance, the cause of immortality.
| La. nl,
should devote more attention to the
philosophy Of the family. The Alliance
has great work to do in this connec-
| ton.
The address was loudly applauded at
its close, after which Justice Harlan
arose and introduced Colonel j. L.
Greene of Hartford, Conn, who read
an address on "The Social Vice" JUS
tice Harlan said that while the subject
might not he an agreeable one it was
one of great Importance.
THE SOCIAL VICE.
Colonel Greene, u rather short, spare
man, wearing close-cropped beard and
eyeglasses, read IN penetrating voice,
and Justice Harlan's introduction in
sured the closest attention. Man was
essentially social; he could not be con-
sidered alone, as an isolated individual.
Man is never in solitude and must al
ways be considered us associated with
other humans. The family is what
must be considered. Every theory of
lawlessncss is aimed at the family The
Anarchist feels that the family must be
overcome before his theories can be put
in practice The launching of n new
life is the solemnest duty and function
humanity is ever called upon to perform.
The new life is the image of God. The
union Of two lives for sordid considera-
tions or for any reason but that of pure
love could not be other than evil. The
open doors of He'll stand open in the
streets of our cities.
The seductive emis5aries Of inn
morality throng the streets, bcguiling
giddy, pleasurc-loving girlhood. The
breakers of the marriage vow throng the
gatherings Of society. Liccntiousncss,
cloakcd with respcctablity, has its
thousands of unknown victims. Much
of this immortality originates in the
mixed public schools. The speaker 5
first work in connection with the White
Gross Society had been directed toward
the schools. AS IN agency of false
teaching, scarcely anything can compare
]
thinks and speaks GXtruvagantly. And
the modern novel deals almost entirely
with the relations OF men and women,
fromfaint hint and innuendO to the broad
realism fZola. The newspapers divide
the field with the noyclisls. The SON
sational press, which Is u large part OF
the whole press, gathers from all parts
of the earth the saluCiOusncss of all peo-
pies and places them in the families,
"Who can touch pitch and not be dc.
filcd?' he began. "Mudcrn art il alsu
greatly evil It's evil influence cNtcnds
from the galleries Of the rich and the
shop windows that fill our streets. So
ciety docs not visit equal punishment on
the man and woman who violate the
rules of chastity, How does u child
from what he hears, learn TO consider
marriages? As the unity Of two souls
made one for the other, or as bushes,
transaction, in which each party seeks to
take q business advantage OF the other
and get the best of the burgaiu2 Nast
numbers Of foreigners go TO the western
portions Of our country and sCttlc In
colonies, where they control politica
affairs.
"lIerc * where anarchy takes root
Free love, the breaking of the marriag,
tie at will, are It's teachings, The saloUr
Is hot-bed Of social impurty, Her,
the downfall of virtue is cause ioi
mirth. WHAT do the teachings u
Christianity show? We can fight i'm
purity only by teaching purity. Tn,
true order Is now that the church teaul
the parenb and they the children. Bu
! tbprp is "A N.,gt fold putsilp pf this